The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1887-10-19

gained the ascendency. 1t is now ap-
parent that Assistant General Manager
Odell's resignation "is the first gun in
the campaign of radical changes planned
by the Willard party. 1t is intimated
that Willard has determencd to wipe gu
a corrupt land ring dominating North
ern Pacific affairs" It. is asserted that
the next steps taken will be the request
for the designations of President Harris
and Nice-Prcsident Cakes. A letter to
the Independent says: 'The land ring
of the Northern Pacific is one of the.
most corrupt concerns that ever fastened
its fangs on the throat of a territory. 1t
is openly charged in Dakota that this
ring has nearly ruined the prospect of
that territory, emigrants have been pro-
hibited from settling along the line of
The road in order to provide a large tract
for spectators. Willard is said to have
gr, wn more indignant every day as he
examines into the condition of affairs
and finds to what an enormous extent
the road has been cheated out of contig-
nous population. Negotiations for the
consolidation of The NortliermPacific and
Wisconsin Centeral railways are now in
rapid progress, and a through line from
Chicago to the Pacific will seen be ar
ranged. The consolidation is a great
blow at many Northwestern interests,
and it is minated that the our of
Chauncey NJ. Depew has something to
Il, with The Vanderbilt interests, which
are somewhat disturbed by the threaten
ed swamping OF its through traffic by the
Wisconsin Central" Thus slowly but
surely is the management of the North
ern Pacific going into the hands of him
who made lt-Henry Willard.
In 1876 Mr.. Willard began 10 examine
into the Northern Pacific. He already
knew more about it than any one in its
directory. 1t had an enormous land
grant that ran through the great wheat
belt of Dakota, which was becoming more
and more valuable. His examination
made him determined to buy tire stock,
franchise and all at that time it had
very little value and was worth from s
to 10 cents, and at these figures Willard
and his associates bought not less than
$4,000 shares, and when the annual
meeting occurred, TO the amazement of
old owners. Mr.. Willard reconstructed
the directory eltcting himself president
of the company. Mr.. Wizards energy
was untiring. lie sold nearly $30,000,.
600 worth of land, and left two-thirds of
the grant untouched worth 500, 000, ZOO.
That which had been sold brought from
$3.50 to s. per acre, IN much Of the
rest was of the most valuable portion of
the grant. At forty nine Mr.. Willard was
among the rich men of the country, aud
he made all his fortune in ten years and
from absolutely nothing. His Oregon
steamship stock was worth $G,o0o;0hN
and his interest in the Northern Pacific
not less than $4,000 600. II very fair for.
tune for a newspaper reporter to make
in ten years. But in 1888 Willard met
with unlocked far reverses and all Of his
immense fortune went to pay his debts,
amid the great rejoicing of those who
feared Ills power and knew his honesty
to be ~impregnable. -Four years have
quickly passed and in the meantime Vii
lard has been quietly NJ work until he
has triumphantly regained the prone
position he NEE held in the manage
ment of the Northern Pacific He pro
poses to begin where he left off in hi:
work-to make the road a paying on,
for its shareholders and to weed out al
officers and measures not in harmony
with his purpose.